Madison — Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp on Tuesday defended Gov. Scott Walker's plan to turn the Natural Resources Board into an advisory panel, instead of one that makes policy, even as she acknowledged she had not been consulted on the proposal in advance.

"I feel that it's extra layers," Stepp said of the board in a briefing to the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee. "I think it's duplicative."

The idea has sparked opposition from Democrats as well as some of Walker's fellow Republicans. Sen. Luther Olsen (R-Ripon) said he had "some concerns" about the plan.(48)

If Park Bank is liable for not spotting Sujata "Sue" Sachdeva's $34 million embezzlement from Koss Corp., then so is chief executive Michael Koss, the bank argues in a new lawsuit.

In a suit filed last week, the bank argues that if a jury finds Park Bank liable for the loss, then Michael Koss and Grant Thornton, the firm's former auditor, should have to pay some of the award.

"Park Bank denies any and all liability to Koss in this case," Park Bank wrote in its action. "Nevertheless, should Park Bank be found liable to Koss (Corp.) and required to pay damages to Koss in this case those damages will have been the result of a common liability of Park Bank, Michael Koss and Grant Thornton, thereby entitling Park Bank to (a) contribution from Michael Koss and Grant Thornton."(1)

Sports Blogs

Buzz Williams on the rigors of coaching

Sure, a lot of stress and pressure comes with the job, but that is the case with most jobs. And many coaches are hired to be fired, like there is security in any profssion these days. So no one really feels sorry for coaches, who are paid millions for the trouble.

Here's what Buzz Williams said Saturday about his profession Saturday after the Golden Eagles completed a season sweep of the Pitt Panthers:

"You think about this week. We had 19 turnovers at Georgetown. It was our fourth game in eight days. Three of the four had been on the road. We were't great (at Georgetown). They're playing way faster because they're playing with their guards. Then we're playing Pitt, which is almost diametrically opposed to Georgetown in a lot of ways, particularly offensively.

"Then the next day, whatever it was, Syracuse gets beat at UConn and everybody is saying (the on-probation Huskies) play for the love of the game because they can't go anywhere. That's awesome. I respect that. Then you fastforward to today and Notre Dame gets beat by Providence. Nobody things Providence is any good, but I think Providence is really good. Villanova, which is .500, goes to UConn and wins, Kentucky is down 24 at half at Tennessee. There's a top-20 game at the Bradley Center this afternooon.

"I think it's just part of life. How can you have the discipline to do what you're supposed to do every day regardless of your emotional level? High emotional or low emotonal. It's hard, because I want to be really excited (after sweeping Pitt) and dance in the locker room, but I can't because I won't work tomorrow. And if we don't work tomorrow, and we don't figure out a way to beat Seton Hall, then we've lost the positive impact of this work.

"From a program selfishness standpoint, can we be tough enough the next 29 days? Can we exhaust every opportunity to improve and along the way never become satisfied with it?

"When you think about it, that's when coaches lose their minds. You think about all the things that have happened to coaches this week. They just feel the weight of the world on them. Scouting has become so sophisticated with synergy, does he go right, does he go left, it becomes robotic. And you're trying to tell 19 20 kids who have a test, who have problems of their own, to do this, to do that. Man, it's hard. Then you've got to wake up early, before everybody else, and do it again tomorrow. Or are you gonna sleep in because you're happy you won. Or, are you gonna sleep in because you're not tough enough because you got your ass beat?

"That's miserable."

About Michael Hunt

Michael Hunt is a former sports columnist and reporter for the Journal Sentinel.